Brisbane Rathayatra
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Lord Jagannatha’s Rathayatra was celebrated in central Brisbane, after many years absence, using the big Rathayatra cart from New Govardhana. This year the devotees were able to secure a permit from the City Council for the parade and use of the town hall square afterwards.

Around 500 devotees attended, plus there were crowds of onlookers watching from the street and shops. Lord Jagannatha was smiling, it was a beautiful sunny day and everyone was in ecstasy the whole afternoon. A lot of people attended the festival in the town square at the end.
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Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the most spiritual of all?
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 09 May 2014, Bhaktivedanta Manor, England, Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.23.3-6)

Prahlada Maharaja

Prahlad Maharaj said to the Lord, “You are such a kind personality, you have kindly promised to protect us – the demons!”

How nice is Prahlad, to see himself like that. Are we seeing ourselves like that? Or when we are reading the sixteenth chapter of Bhagavad-gita and the first few verses that describe the devotees, then we are like, “That is us,” and the rest of the chapter about the demons, “These are the neighbours.” Is that how we read the sixteenth chapter? Or are we reading the sixteenth chapter by holding it up as a mirror and reflecting, “How much of this is still to some degree present in me?”

Unless we are prepared to read the Bhagavatam, read the scripture in that introspective way; unless we are ready to question ourselves; and unless we are ready to have that mood of seeing ourselves as fallen, how can we be ready to improve ourselves?

 

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The 27th quality....After giving a lecture on the 26 qualities of a Vaishnava in Boston Srila Prabhupada said actually there is a 27th quality. The Devotees looked anxiously in askance waiting for the revelation of the 27th quality of a Vaishnava. Srila Prabhupada looked at all the devotees and said with a straight face "you have to be a little crazy to be a devotee." Then he smiled and laughed a little. I always felt the 27th quality explained a lot...<3 HH. Bhagavat Maharaja Continue reading →

New Vrindaban Daily darsan @ June 12, 2014.
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

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Ah! In Vrndavana Forest all the animals, birds, trees, vines and countless other living entities, who are all very sweetly beautiful and as splendid as gold, have now become stunned by drinking the maddeningly sweet nectar of the bliss of great transcendental love. Ah! Induced by all of them, the most enchanting, priceless teenage treasure has now appeared before me.

Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, Sataka-2, Text-60, Translation.]

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Wednesday, June 11th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Rossland, British Columbia

Relentless Highway


“The highway is relentless here,” said Larry, a resident from the city of Trail.  Karuna and I spent the major portion of the day seeking alternatives to the Crowsnest Pass – Highway 3B which runs through Trail.  Larry, whose house we stumbled upon after being pleasantly surprised by his OM insignia at the end of his driveway, made his remark about the road and his experience.  If he were a motorist, you’d find the drive through this town a grinding ordeal as the road snakes along and climbs a mountain.  And the speed of traffic?  I was reminded of the lyrics by that old Sonny and Cher song, “The cars keep a movin’ faster all the time.” 

The alternative routes we took to circumvent the mad highway were:

1)      The neglected Wagon Road 800 (The old gold rush trail).
2)      The suburban street zigzagging which people call switch-backing.
3)      The very informal half baked trail along a steep slope that angles into the Columbia River

Other highlights of the day:

1)       Daruka, Our support driver, purchased a 21 speed mountain bike in mint condition for $40 to be used in our pedestrian service.
2)      A flyer circulating in the town of Salmo was promotion for two presentations at the SVYCC for mantra meditation and a Tales From Trails at the Salmo Library. 
3)      Our experience walking through Trail, BC, convinced us that this city take a more serious look at its name and provide the necessary.

Here’s how the flyer for Salmo reads:

Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to meet THE WALKING MONK
 
The people!  The wildlife!  The beauty!  The oddities!
 
Always engaging and enthusiastic, this jolly swami gives talks and takes questions about his insightful and often breathtaking adventures across our great nation as he shares his ‘Tails From Trails’, and a bonus mantra mediation.

May the Source be with you!

27 KM

Devotees “Hungry to Hear” at Festival of Inspiration in New Vrindaban
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Devotees “Hungry to Hear” at Festival of Inspiration

By Madhava Smullen

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Arriving at Festival of Inspiration — seeing the rows of cars in the parking lot, the book and merchandise booths, the huge prasadam tent, the hundreds of devotees milling about on the lawns in front of New Vrindaban’s ISKCON temple and enjoying each other’s association – is like meeting an old friend. It’s fun, enlivening, and there’s always so much to hear and share.

This year’s 14th annual Festival drew around 550 devotees from all over North America, slightly fewer than usual due to parallel events like Chicago’s Nama Yajna Festival and North Carolina’s Sadhu Sanga Retreat. But according to organizer Vrindavana Das, this only served to create an intimate atmosphere that was relished by all the devotees.

Attendees dived straight into the nectarean experience on the evening of Thursday May 8th, as Hari Sauri Das and Sruta Kirti Das, who both acted as personal servants of Srila Prabhupada, shared their memories in an impromptu gathering.

Friday May 9th and Saturday May 10th were the core festival days, with 18 presenters giving seminars on a wide range of Krishna conscious topics from 10:30am to 6:30pm.

With three seminars going on at once, festivalgoers had a choice of some of the best speakers in ISKCON, including Bhaktivedanta College principal Yadunandana Swami on how to preserve Prabhupada’s legacy, scholar Bhakti Vasudeva Swami on youth empowerment, BBT editor Dravida Das on hearing and chanting, and Anuttama Das on strategic planning for life.

Some of the most popular seminars were those on Srila Prabhupada. Devotees savored Hari Sauri’s “Srila Prabhupada: The Living Bhagavatam” on how the ISKCON founder applied and lived the philosophy of Krishna consciousness, as well as Srutakirti’s sweet personal memories.

Srutakirti explains that he strives to give devotees an experience of Srila Prabhupada when he speaks. “Prabhupada is the essence of everything we’re trying to understand as devotees,” he says. “So I hope to not just glorify him but also show what our goal is (through him).”

He also spoke about how encouraging Prabhupada was. “Everything Prabhupada did was to encourage us,” he says. “And I think it’s important in a society of devotees to understand that the whole purpose of association with others is to give encouragement and to become encouraged.”

Also extremely popular was “Failure is the Pillar of Success,” a seminar by Vaisesika Das, who is known for counseling and inspiring devotees around the world. Packing the main community hall in the Palace Lodge, he spoke about the attitudes, such as pride, laxity and justification, that can lead to stumbles on the spiritual path.

Like Srutakirti’s seminar, Vaisesika’s also focused on encouragement, the essence of “Festival of Inspiration.” He reassured devotees that they should not be discouraged if they fall along the path, but should continue happily practicing devotional service with full faith. Thus, they’ll eventually come to the perfect stage. Quoting Srila Prabhupada in “Light of the Bhagavat,” he said, “Failures may not be detrimental; they may be the pillars of success.”

This had Vaisesika’s audience feeling very encouraged, and their response in turn inspired him. “My impression was that devotees at Festival of Inspiration are very hungry to hear about Krishna,” he says. “They drank everything like nectar. It was very encouraging to see.”

Meanwhile throughout the day children aged 5 to 12 had their own Krishna conscious activities in the Kids’ Tent, allowing their parents to attend seminars. New Vrindaban veteran teacher Lilasuka Dasi, Jaya Sri Vrinda and Laura from Gainesville’s Krishna House, and local teacher Olivia kept the 30 kids who attended busy.

“We started each session with a kirtan, and they all took turns leading,” says Lilasuka. “We learned a Bhagavad-gita verse, and did an activity based on the verse. We made necklaces and friendship bracelets for Mother’s Day. And there was facepainting, and a clown making Krishna conscious balloon figures.”

As well as daytime seminars and activities, devotees also relished the special morning Bhagavatam classes. On Friday, Ramesvara Das spoke about the importance of compassion. On Saturday scholar Radhika Ramana Das gave a class full of personal realization on prayer. And on Sunday — Mother’s Day — Vaisesika Das spoke on the motherly qualities we should develop, and on how Krishna’s affection for his devotees is like that of millions of mothers.

In the evenings, devotees packed into the temple to sing bhajans with Vaisesika Das, Yadunandana Swami, Mayapur kirtaniya Uttama Bhakta Das, and mantra rock legend Titiksava Karunika Das. “That was one of the best parts of the festival for me,” says organizer Vrindavana Das, who found the Holy Name rejuvenating amidst his hard work.

On Sunday, everyone was thrilled by Bhakti Marg Swami’s drama “The Little Big Ramayana,” which condensed the ancient epic’s themes of good and evil, loyalty, love and devotion into one hour. “It was very action packed and fast moving,” says longtime New Vrindaban-resident Jayasri Dasi, who helped organize the festival.

Throughout the festival, devotees fueled up three times a day with a typically delicious Festival of Inspiration menu. Renowned cooks Shankha Das, Madan Mohan Das, and Radha Dasi didn’t even let grain-free Ekadasi stop them, whipping up a sumptuous array of creamy mashed potatoes, aloo tikki, carrot halava, salad, fresh juice and even buckwheat cake. Meanwhile Sunday’s traditional feast with its paneer subji, mango drink and strawberry sweet rice had devotees in a beaming state of bliss.

Organizer Vrindavana Das says all enjoyed the festival immensely and are looking forward to coming back for the grand 15th anniversary of Festival of Inspiration in 2015.

Vrindavana is planning to make the 15th year one to remember, coordinating with other festivals to make sure there are no clashes and inviting a long list of Swamis, legendary kirtaniyas, and Festival of Inspiration staples. He’s also reserving enough accommodation at New Vrindaban and local hotels for 800 guests.

“Festival of Inspiration is such a privilege,” he says. “It’s really a wonderful opportunity for me to serve so many wonderful devotees.”

 

 

Memorial Day for Russian Pioneer Ananta Shanti in the temple of Sri Sri Nitai Doyal and Saci Suta in Moscow (Album 44 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Ananta-shanti Dasa passed away on June 3 this year, as the result of a stroke. My dear godbrother Ananta-shanti, the sacrifices you made in spreading Krishna consciousness, the suffering you underwent in executing that mission, and the determination you displayed to serve the order of our spiritual master are rare even amongst Gaudiya Vaishnavas. May all Vaishnavas know of your exploits. May they honor the pain you endured and the faith you regained despite all efforts by communist authorities to destroy it. Lest we forget, may we constantly remember your unique contribution to Lord Chaitanya’s sankirtana movement. From your transcendental position please look down upon this humble soul and grant me the same courage that you had to spread the glories of the holy names far and wide despite the greatest opposition. With the deepest respect and admiration, Your servant, Indradyumna Swami Read more ›

How the Gita’s ninth chapter reveals its bhakti essence
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Lecture Podcast

Lecture Highlights:

9.13-14: Inner disposition and outer action of devotees

Concept of bhakti developed in the Gita: 2.61, 3.30, 4.9, 5.25, 6.14-15, 6.30, 6.47, 7.1, 8.14

Varying initial focuses of concentration in ashtanga-yoga: 5.27 and 6.13

Unvarying eventual and final focuses: 6.14, 6.30, 6.47, 7.1

Four ways Gita's chp 9 glorifies bhakti:

1. Eternal result: 9.20-22

2. Simplicity of worship: 9.26-28

3. Overcomes incidental faults: 9.30-31

4. Overcomes innate faults: 9.33

9.13 - Empowerment is

 

 

 

 

April 24th Krsna Lounge Kirtan & Talk
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Kirtan lead by Giriraj Gopal Dasa:

 

Talk by Nitya Gaura Dasa:

 

Installation of Sri Sri Radha-Giridhari, May 17, Houston
Giriraj Swami

05.17.14_01.Installation_Houston———————–
Romapada Swami and Giriraj Swami spoke during the ceremony.

“As Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Himself described,

naham vipro na ca nara-patir napi vaisyo na sudro
naham varni na ca grha-patir no vana-stho yatir va
kintu prodyan nikhila-paramananda-purnamrtabdher
gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah

‘I am not a brahmana, I am not a ksatriya, I am not a vaisya or a sudra. Nor am I a brahmacari, a householder, a vanaprastha, or a sannyasi. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krsna, the maintainer of the gopis. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance.’ (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya 13.80)

“That is the best position. Even serving the deity should be done in the mood of serving the devotees. Everything should be done in the mood of serving guru and the devotees. That will please the deities and the devotees—Sri Krishna and His servants. We are all mutually dependent. As Srila Prabhupada wrote in a letter to a disciple: ‘You are dependent on my mercy, and I am dependent on your mercy. It is reciprocal. This mutual dependence is based on love—Krishna consciousness.’ Even the Lord places Himself in our hands. He depends on us to wake Him, to feed Him, and to dress Him. It is such a sublime reciprocation.” — Giriraj Swami

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Giriraj Swami

37th Sannyāsa Anniversary Lecture Of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami
Bhakti Charu Swami

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS Founder-Ācārya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda The 37th Sannyāsa Anniversary Lecture Of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami was given at the house of Dvarakadish Prabhu on 13 June 2014, Yorba Linda, California, US. Announcer: You use this tumbler, offer little bit water, there is an instrument..Not too much… Devotees:(...)

Good luck, bad luck or tough luck!
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 19 January 2014, Durban, South Africa, Lecture)

kks and black catLord Krsna is our eternal companion. Anywhere and everywhere, Krsna is always with us! It is said that in many ways Krsna is with us. Krsna is present in the material world as the paramatma. Dvā suparṇā sayujā sakhāyā, (Śvetāśvatara Upanishad 4.6). There are two birds seated on branches of a tree – one of those birds is the living being and the other bird is the Supreme Lord in the form of paramatma who is there along with the living being and never, ever leaves him for a moment.

In many ways Krsna is there, after all not a blade of grass moves without the will of the Lord:

mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ
sūyate sa-carācaram
hetunānena kaunteya
jagad viparivartate (Bhagavad-gita 9.10)
 
For everything in this universe, know that I am the cause of this and that everything is going on by my will alone. So in this way, Krsna is also with us because no matter what happens to us, we can see that it is Krsna’s plan. Nothing is going on by chance or by good luck, by bad luck or tough luck, “Oh boy, why is this happening to me?” No, Krsna is there.

Then the next step may be to say, “Krsna, why are you doing this to me?” But that is not very humble. That is an attitude where we think, “I got it all figured out. I am supposed to be happy here (in this material world) and Krsna who is in control of everything, is not cooperating!” This attitude is not one of worshiping at all. It is an attitude where we are demanding – who is the Lord and who is whose servant? Then we treat Krsna as our order supplier and we are demanding from Krsna.

kks grey hairBut who said that the material world was meant for happiness anyway. The material world has only one purpose – for us to learn, for us to simply learn and grow. It has no other purpose at all and if you want another purpose out of it, it does not work. All that you get from life is that you learn a lesson and grow. That is what grey hairs are all about…

Krsna is making arrangements to elevate us; that is his purpose. His purpose is to lift up all living beings. Somehow or other, we have gone down in selfishness; we have gone down in a mood of exploitation. Oh yes, everyone is exploiting someone else – that is the name of the game. The living being is trying to exploit the entire universe; that is our preoccupation.

Krsna’s purpose is indeed to make us humble, to bring us to the point of man-mana bhava mad-bhakto, mad-yaji mam namaskuru (Bhagavad-gita 9.34), where we bow down. One has to bow down; bowing down means to give up our pride. It is said that a tree that is laden with fruits will naturally bow down, so in the same way, a person who has all good qualities will naturally bow down! But one who does not have good qualities stands erect in pride, “Don’t you know who I am!? Don’t you know my greatness and my glories? Just see all my good qualities!” But, in the material world everyone will encounter someone who is greater than himself and that is very frustrating for a proud man… shattered dreams and that dreaming is what material life is about!

Ratha Yatra in Novosibirsk, Russia (Album 37 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

"O Lord of lords! About Jagannath, Lord of the universe! Please destroy the suffering inflicted upon me. O lotus-eyed Lord! Please, deliver this soul from the ocean of material existence! " "I bow to Thee, O Almighty! You - the soul of the universe! You are beyond the material nature and the impersonal Brahman. However, You have the amazing transcendental qualities. I bow to thee! " "I offer my obeisances to Lord Balarama, the strongest of the strong! He sustains the universe! Obeisances unto You, O enemy Pralamba! On the elder brother of Krishna, please set me free! " Read more ›